How is gay marriage a "scary" issue? How will gay marriage cause a ripple effect in your heterosexual life? Will the legalization of gay marriage actually start a dialogue between you and your child about homosexuality? Maybe you and your family can start a discussion about tolerance, diversity, showing kindness and love to all human beings? Because that is what homosexuals are—they are human beings who deserve the same treatment, opportunities, etc as heterosexuals, which includes marriage or civil unions or whatever it is you want to call it (we can certainly get into a debate about the definition of marriage, but I find that pointless because I could call my own heterosexual marriage a civil union, partnership, etc. They are just words and we can imply whatever meaning we want depending on our own objective).

My point is, if you are really living a life full of tolerance and understanding and accepting diversity, gay marriage should not be an “issue” or a threat to your family. There’s a difference between you having a belief and you imposing that belief on other people and forcing them to comply and abide by your beliefs, which, in this case, denies the basic right of an adult American to marry whatever gender they want.

M-dog, Gay marriage in and of itself isn’t a scary issue, but the normalization of it is. If people want to marry someone of the same gender it eventually WILL become my business when society starts telling my children that it’s normal and ok. THAT is where the ripple effect takes place. Also, it is not the public school’s job to teach my children about religious topics. I realize that to you it is not a religious subject, but a social or cultural one. But to me gay marriage is a perversion of one of the most basic, and core parts of my beliefs. I didn’t decide that gay marriage is wrong. Mormons didn’t decide that it is wrong. Republicans didn’t decide it either. God did, when he set the pattern with Adam and Eve. I’m not going to argue with the way God set things up.

I want my children to be tolerant people. I want them to know that each person is a child of God and inherently deserves to be treated with respect and kindness. You can be accepting of someone without condoning their behavior.

When I watched the vice-presidential debate, I really agreed with Joe Biden's stand on the issue: That marriage should be defined as being between a man and a woman. But also that if two people want to sign a mortgage together or have visitation rights in hospitals, etc. that that is ok. My uncle was gay, and it was his partner who took care of him and all of his affairs during and after he passed away. So I really do feel like I have compassion for gay people- but marriage to me is such a sacred institution; we shouldn't mess around with the definition of it.

Well, I just read an article from NPR really does concern me. While I feel that gay people should have certain rights, I do worry about my own rights being taken away. There needs to be a balance between tolerance for same sex couples, and maintaining religious freedoms, and I'm not sure our society is capable of that.

To MW - It is very obvious in the posted video that legalizing gay marriage WILL take away a parent's right to choose how and when the dialogue about homosexuality occurs with a child. It is scary to me that in Mass (where I LIVE right now)they have decided to expose children to that issue at such a tender young age. This is the way that legalizing gay marriage has a very real effect on my life and my child's life. I hope that the people in California choose to adopt Prop 8.

And what's wrong with talking about gay marriage to any child at any age? Homosexuality is a fact of life and if anything, by speaking about it with your child, you actually will teach them about diveristy, tolerance, and understanding, which is my whole point. You don't need to be "scared" about homosexuality and teaching children about diversity and tolerance, especially when there's a war in Iraq, global warming, the crisis in Darfur, etc--legitimate "scary" topics. Legalizing gay marriage is the least of my concerns, but that's just me.

Unless, of course, you think your child will become a homosexual just by speaking about it to him/her.

Anyway, I'm done talking about this topic. Marianne, I promise, I have made my last comment :)

Based on your comments I doubt you have your own children. Lots of "facts of life" are inappropriate for a kindergartener. And wanting to teach my own children at the age I feel is appropriate about honosexuality does NOT make me intolerant. In fact, those who would force me otherwise seem to be the intolerant ones, and the hypocrisy is so ironic!

OH PLEASE, Marianne! Do you really think that ANYONE (let alone my friends!)thinks that talking about being gay will make someone gay? We're conservative, not stupid. I'm seriously offended!

I really don't see any reason why I SHOULD talk to my children about gay marriage unless they bring it up some day. And that doesn't make me intolerant! Really, it's a heavy topic, and not one for small kids.

I haven't had I chance to see the video yet- since I'm working but I'll watch it when I get off. Seems to be stirring up quite the contraversy :) I really like your opinions though.. from your comments. Work is going well! So far Jayden has been sleeping while I work in the mornings. I am super tired... which has been hard- one step at a time I guess. I really do appreciate your offer! :) ... How is the job search going for you?? I told my husband about Lifeline's "offer" - he was shocked!

I did not mean to offend. I was merely taking a guess as to why you all find the topic of gay marriage a "scary" issue. So, please, spell it out, why is gay marriage a scary topic? What makes it scary? Please, explain!

Homosexuals are just everyday people living their lives. They or their desire to marry should not be a scary issue. That is all I'm saying.